Match case



Dec. 25, 1934. VQGEL 1,985,751

MATCH C'ASE Filed June 2, 1935 INVENTORY MHXVEIEEL.

' A TTORNEY.

meted Dec. 25, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE @1333...

Max Vogel, Franktort-on-the-Main, Germany 8 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improved match case, particularly for carrying paper bookmatches.

These matches are usually provided flap to remain open, with the dangerous possi-' 1 bility that a spark might ignite the remaining matches and seriously burn the user.

Also the flexible non-permanent character of these bookmatches allows them to become broken, torn, damp and otherwise injured and impaired if carried unprotected in the pockets.

An object of the present invention is to provide a match case of simple, inexpensive and compact construction which will permit the match book to be easily inserted therein, and which will effectually prevent any possibility of accidental ignit- A further object is to provide a match case construction which will be free of projections and sharp edges that might wear out ing of the matches.

pockets. Another object is to provide a match case in which the matches may be easily gripped by the fingers, particularly at the side edges of the case.

Another object is to provide a case of extreme thinness, while at the same time providing adequate protection for the matches, and to this end it is proposed to recess the interior of the case to accommodate the match heads, thereby permitting of a very compact structure without danger of compressing and breaking the heads. It

is further proposed to provide a match case which may be conveniently molded or pressed from a molded material, as bakelite, press-board, and the like, givin possibility to the production of cases having very attractive designs and colors, and in which advertising or other desired matter may be conveniently molded in the structure.

Another object is to provide improved fastening means, which will efl'ectually retain the case closed and may be very easily operated to open it, and in which the inherent resiliency of the material of the case is utilized to effect the opening and closing of the fastening means.

A further object is to provide means for gripping the match book when removing a, match and when striking the same, so that the book cannot become displaced during these operations, and which at the same time will permit of the easy these operations.

With the above and other objects in view an embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, and this embodiment will be hereinafter more fully described with reference thereto, and the invention will be finally pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a match case, according to the illustrated exemplary embodiment of the invention, and showing the same in closed position.

Fig. 2 is .a perspective view showing the case opened.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the same.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view.

Fig. 'l is a top'plan view showing-the position of the parts as the cover is snapped closed or open, and showing in dot-and-dash lines the po-' sition of the cover just prior to snapping closed.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view, taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view, closed, and with the book matches in gripped relation.

Fig. 10 is a verticalsectional view, open, and with the book matches in gripped relation.

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view with the gripping means in released relation, and showing the match book partially inserted.

I Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the-several figures of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, the match case, according to the illustrated exemplary embodiment of the invention is preferably molded or pressed from moldable or plastic material, such as phenolcompound, press-board, or the like, and comprises a body portion 10 provided at its lower end with a pocket 11 for receiving the lower end of the match book. The pocket 11 is provided at the front with an opening 12 for exposing the striking surface of the match book, and at the upper ends of each of its sides there are provided cover mounting bearing portions 13-43.

The cover 14, which is preferably of complementary shape to'the body portion above the pocket 11, is provided at its lower end with a thickened bearingportion 15 disposed between the bearing portions 1313 and hingedly mounted by means of pins 16-16 carried by said portions 1313 and engaged in sockets 17-17 provided at each end of the portion 15. In the closed position the complementary side walls of the body and cover portions meet in the central vertical plane of the case and completely enclose the matches. In the open position, as shown in Figs. 2 and the matches are only surrounded by the wall of the body, which being relatively shallow permits of easy access to the matches, a great advantage over the type of case where the side wall completely obstructs the matches at the sides making it extremely difficult to engage the matches.

ger engaging lugs 18 and 19 formed upon the upper ends of the respective body and cover portions, there being complementary camming surfaces 20 and 21 to effect closing, and c'omplementary camming surfaces 22 and 23 to retain the cover closed and to effect opening. The fastening means operates somewhat in the manner of a pocket book clasp, one lug being forced in one direction and the other in the other direction by respective engagement of the thumb and index finger therewith. The inherent resiliency of the cover is sumcient to permit the lugs to be forced past each other in closing and opening, and as clearly indicated-in Fig. '7.

In order to enable the case to be extremely thin, without danger of breaking the match heads, and without sacrifice of the desired thickness of material for adequate strength, the body and cover are interiorly'recessed at the upper ends, as at 24 and 25, thus providing a widened space for receiving the match heads, the outer surfaces of the case remaining flat.

The pocket 11 is provided with inwardly offset flat end walls 26-26, forming a space slightly narrower than the space between the side walls of the body and cover above, the pocket, and which end walls snugly and firmly engage the edges of the lower folded end of the match book.

The lower bearing end portion 15 of the cover is provided with a fiat intermediate surface 27. an inner projecting gripping surface 28 and an outer projecting gripping surface 29. In the closed position indicated in Fig; 9 the inner gripping surface 28 tightly presses against and grips the lower end of the match book so that it is firmly held while striking a match against the striking surface. In the open position indicated in Fig. 10 the outer gripping surface 29 presses and grips the match book in a similar manner, so that it is firmly held while tearing off one of the In an intermediate position, as indicated in Fig.11, the flat surface 27 is brought into parallel relation with the back surface and provides a widened entrance to the pocket so that the match book may be freely inserted or removed.

In the use of the case the cover of the book matches may be torn off if desired, or it may conveniently befolded into the case by bending up the lower extremity as shown. It will be observed that the igniting surface is substantially concealed by the cover in the open position, and it is only in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:--

1. A match case for book matches comprising a .body portion including a pocket at its lower end having a striking surface exposing aperture therein, a cover hinged to the upper end of said pocket, the lower end of said cover having a projecting surface non-concentric to the hinge axis adapted in one position of said cover to grip the inserted match book between said projection and the body portion.

2. A match case for book matches comprising a body portion including a pocket at its lower end having a striking surface exposing aperture therein, a cover hinged to the upper end of said pocket, the lower end of said cover having a projecting surface non-concentric to the hinge axis adapted in one position of said coverto grip the inserted match book between said projection and the body portion, and' said lower end also having a surface of smaller radius than said projection adapted in another position of said cover to release said inserted match book.

3. A match case for book matches comprising a body portion including a pocket at its lower end having a striking surface exposing aperture theresaid lower end also having a surface of smaller radius than said projection adapted in another position of said coverto release said inserted match book.

4. A match case for book matches comprising a body portion including a match book supportof said'pocket portion and the lower end of said cover defining a striking aperture, said inner surfaces of the end walls adapted to tightly receive the striking end of the match book to prevent transverse displacement and said side walls of the back portion above said pocket-adapted to be outwardly spaced from the side edges of the back of the match book.

5. A match case for book matches comprising a body portion including a match book supportingback portion having forwardly extending side walls and a pocket portion at its lower end adapted to receive the striking end of the match book, said pocket portion including a rear wall continuous and flush with said back portion, a bottom wall, and end walls having their inner surfaces inwardly offset from the inner surfaces of the side walls of said back portion and each having an inwardly extending flange adapted to engage and retain the front surface at each extremity of the striking end of the match book, and a cover hinged to the forward upper ends of the end walls of said pocket portion, said bottom .and end walls of said pocket portion and thelower end of said cover defining a striking aperture, said inner surfaces and said fian'ges of the end walls adapted to tightly receive the striking end of the match book and said side walls of the back portion above said pocket adapted to be outwardly spaced from the side edges of the back of the match book. 1

6. A match case for book matches comprising a body portion including a match book supporting back portion and a pocket portion at its lower end adapted to receive the striking end of the match book, said pocket portion including a rear wall continuous and flush with said back portion, a bottom wall, and end walls, and a cover hinged to the forward upper ends of the end walls of said pocket portion, said bottom and end walls of said pocket portion and the lower end of said cover defining a striking aperture, said cover having its outer surface substantially flush with the forward surfaces of said end walls and having rearwardly extending side walls and a top wall abutting said back portion when closed and surrounding portions of the side and top of the match book and adapted when opened to expose said portions of the sides and top of the match book.

7. A match case for book matches comprising a body portion including a match book supporting back portion having forwardly extending side and top walls having their edges disposed in the central plane of the case and a pocket portion at its lower end adapted to receive the striking end of the match book, said pocket portion including a rear wall continuous and flush with said back portion, a bottom wall and end walls, and a cover hinged to the upper ends of the side walls of said pocket portion, said side walls and bottom wall of said pocket portion and the lower end of said cover defining a striking aperture, said cover having its outer surface substantially flush with the forward surfaces of said end walls and having rearwardly extending side and top walls having 8. A match case for book matches comprisinga body portion including a match book supporting back portion having forwardly extending side and top walls having their edges disposed in thecentral plane of the case and a pocket portion at its lower end adapted to receive the striking end of the match book, said pocket portion including a rear wall continuous and flush with the said back portion, a bottom wall and end walls, and a cover hinged to the upper ends of the side walls of said pocket portion, said side walls and bottom wall of said pocket portion and the lower end of said cover defining a striking aperture, said cover having its outer surface substantially flush with the forward surfaces of said end walls and having rearwardlyextending side and top walls having their edges disposed in the central plane of the case when closed, abutting the edges of the side and top walls of said back portion and surrounding portions of the sides and top of the match.

book and adapted when opened to expose said portions of the sides and top of said match book,said back portion and cover being interiorly recessed adjacent their top walls in opposed relation to provide a match head receiving space.

' MAX VOGEL; 

